Buying or adopting a dog can bring joy and excitement into a family's life for many years. But a couple in Surrey, B.C., faced a horrible experience of having to euthanize a French bulldog puppy just four days after purchasing the animal, because it turned out to be sick. Ethan O'Reilly, a veterinary assistant at the Toronto Central Animal Clinic, says he often meets owners with sick pets bought from breeders. "We see issues where they come in and they are not properly de-wormed or vaccinated, or they are essentially lied to," he says. Here are some things to keep in mind to help determine the animal you're bringing home is healthy. "First and foremost, the best thing to do is look for a pet that complements your lifestyle rather than the look of the animal," O'Reilly says. Once you've picked a breed that fits, research the health issues that breed tends to face — for example, Irish wolfhounds and Great Danes tend to suffer from bone issues.

If you know the most common problems of your chosen breed, you will have a better idea of the symptoms to watch. O'Reilly advises being "extremely cautious" when buying from breeders on websites like Kijiji — many of the young animals he sees with health issues were bought online.Stopped Losing Weight With Almased Looking to buy a purebred? Town Fair Tire Mount And Balance PriceToronto veterinary assistant Ethan O'Reilly recommends finding breeders through the Canadian Kennel Club. Tyres Second Hand Dandenong(Nestle Purina PetCare Canada/Canadian Press) But if you do choose to go with a breeder found on the internet, he suggests talking to them over the phone or even arranging a visit. "If you don't have a good relationship with the breeder, you're not going to ensure the proper health of the animal," O'Reilly says.

He recommends looking for breeders through the Canadian Kennel Club — its members must adhere to its policies and code of ethics. The organization even provides a handy guide to finding a reputable breeder. Sellers should be able to provide you with health certificates and records of veterinary visits. If you're buying a purebred dog, you should also get a certificate showing the animal's bloodline, O'Reilly says. The Canadian Kennel Club also advises insisting on getting a written guarantee from the breeder when buying a purebred animal. This document covers what the compensation would be to the buyer if the dog ends up having any health problems related to its genetics. When you meet the dog you want to buy, you should look for clues it's happy and healthy. O'Reilly recommends inspecting its eyes, ears and nose, and looking for any signs of eye or nasal leaking. He says you should also look for classic symptoms of health problems that the breed might be prone to (which you should already know if you've done your research).

Most importantly, be ready to ask any questions about what you're seeing — and the seller should be able to answer them. "Don't be afraid to ask questions, that's the No. 1 thing," O'Reilly says. "Why are his eyes leaking? Why are the folds in his face dried out like that?" Unless you're adamant on getting a puppy or a specific breed, O'Reilly suggests considering adoption. "Shelters are great," he says. "Shelters, I promote 100 per cent." Sunny was found in Tucson, Ariz., on May 12 hanging from a tree and was recovering at the time this photo was taken. O'Reilly encourages aspiring pet owners to consider adoption. (Pima Animal Care Center/Associated Press) While shelter animals are prone to certain illnesses — upper respiratory infection in cats and kennel cough in dogs — many of those problems are easily treatable. A major advantage of adoption is that many shelters have their own veterinarians who will do a complete checkup on the animals and fully disclose any illnesses.

"Upon adopting that animal, you know what you're walking into, and if you as an owner are struggling with that issue, they wil help you," he says. Whether you're buying from a breeder or adopting from a shelter, the biggest piece of advice, O'Reilly says, is to inform yourself and ask questions. "If you don't know a lot about puppies, that's OK. But do your research." A map of the USA showing in red which states have a specified dog breed as an official symbol. Twelve states of the United States have designated an official state dog breed. Maryland was the first state to name a dog breed as a state symbol, naming the Chesapeake Bay Retriever in 1964.[1] Pennsylvania followed the year after, naming the Great Dane as its official breed.[2] Dog breeds are mostly affiliated with the states that they originated in. North Carolina chose the Plott Hound as it was the only dog breed indigenous to the state. Other official state dogs also are indigenous to their state, including the Boston Terrier (Massachusetts) and the Alaskan Malamute (Alaska).

[5] Pennsylvania selected the Great Dane not because of its origin, but because it was introduced by early settlers in the state to be used as a hunting and working dog;[6] it was chosen over the Beagle, which was also proposed around the same time. Two of the more recent successful campaigns to name a state dog have been started by schoolchildren. In 2007, Alaskan kindergarten student Paige Hill's idea created the campaign for the Alaskan Malamute which would convince Representative Berta Gardner to support the bill in 2009, with it becoming law in 2010.[8] Elementary school students from Bedford, New Hampshire won their campaign for the Chinook to be accepted as a symbol of their state in 2009. In May 2013, Governor John Hickenlooper signed a bill started by school children, designating dogs and cats adopted from a Colorado shelter or rescue as the official Colorado state pet. The bill was passed via the state's education committee, both recognizing its role in educating children about the legislative process and the importance of educating the general population regarding the benefits and responsibilities of pet ownership.

There have been a variety of campaigns in other states to select a state dog. Georgia was undecided over choosing a state dog in 1991, with an attempt to make the Golden Retriever the official dog failing after a vote in the Georgia State Senate; an opposing campaign promoted the Bulldog, the mascot of the University of Georgia.[12] The campaign to make the Siberian Husky the Washington state dog failed in the Washington House of Representatives in 2004. In 2006, New York State Assembly member Vincent Ignizio suggested that New York should adopt a dog as a state symbol,[14] and during the campaign to name the western painted turtle as state reptile for Colorado in 2008, it was suggested by local press that the Labrador Retriever would be suitable as a symbol, even though it is not native to the state.[1] While in Kansas as early as 2006, residents have suggested the Cairn Terrier as the state dog due to the breed's appearance as Toto in the film The Wizard of Oz.[15] In 2012, Representative Ed Trimmer tabled a bill proposing the Cairn Terrier as a state symbol.